innovate
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to do something in a new way or create new things.
to introduce new methods, ideas, or products. Often used intransitively to describe a general culture of creativity.
Simple“The company needs to innovate if it wants to stay ahead of its competitors.”
In context“To remain competitive in the global market, the firm must constantly innovate rather than simply refining existing product lines.”
UsageCommonly used intransitively in business contexts to describe a general process of improvement.
SynonymsAntonymsstagnateimitate - 02 C1 Advanced
to bring in a specific new idea or method for the first time.
to introduce a specific novelty or change into an established environment. Transitive use taking the new method or idea as a direct object.
Simple“The school decided to innovate a new teaching method for science classes.”
In context“The laboratory sought to innovate a more efficient carbon-capture process that could be scaled for industrial use.”
UsageTakes a direct object representing the new thing being introduced.
“Throughout the war, as well as relying on Western partners, Ukraine has had to innovate - its home-made drones are responsible for the attacks deep into Russian territory.”
“As the largest stock market-listed ice cream company in the world, with a market capitalisation of around £8bn, it has the funds to innovate.”
First attested in 1548; borrowed from Latin innovātus, perfect passive participle of innovō (“to renew”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.